CONNECTIONS Promoting Member Firms

Mintahoe Hospitality Group
hosted the April 2009 meeting at Chateau at Medicine Lake; President James McMerty spoke to us about Twin City Catering &Mintahoe's recent merger as one on the Twin Cities leading caterer.

RSP Architects
treated us to a firm night in July 2009 with tours of the restored Grain Belt Brewery. President David Norback gave us a history of how the historic building has been restored and now houses RSP Architects.

Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport, Mall of America
was the location for the October monthly chapter meeting. We started out the program year with a special seminar, "When Generations Collide" featuring local and nationally-known speaker, David Stillman, who spoke to us about having four generations in the workplace.

CAREERS Personal & Professional Development

Hotel Sofitel was the site for November's meeting, which focused on results from the Board retreat and strategic planning for the year. Nancy Weidenfeller of member firm MDA Leadership Consulting helped lead this session.

At the International Market Square in January 2009 our guest speaker Dr. Sheila Riggs spoke to us about "US Health Care: How Do We Stack Up." The Marsh in Minnetonka was the venue for Republican National Convention Chair, Cindy Lesher. She shared her story about the RNC held in St. Paul in 2008.

March was our semi-annual business meeting held at The Golden Valley Country Club. Nan DeMars, Ethicist, brought us up-to-date on Cupid and the Cubicle (workplace romance). In August 2009, we held a joint meeting with the St. Paul Chapter at the State Fair – a fun time was enjoyed by all.

The 2009/2010 Board of Directors was installed in September at the Metropolitan in Golden Valley and we enjoyed learning about the chapter in a lively game of "Double Jeopardy".

COMMUNITY Encouraging Community Involvement

In December 2008 as part of our holiday gathering, representatives collected supplies needed by both Sojourners and St. Anne's Place. The 2008 Literacy award of $500 was made to the Jeremiah Program.

In June 2009 at the Bayview Event Center, one resident of the Jeremiah Program was presented with a $1,500 ASIST (Adult Students in Scholastic Transition) award.

May was our big Ways & Means event – Chico's Fashion Show and Silent Auction, held at the Hilton Minneapolis, a member firm. At the fundraiser, close to $5,000 was raised in support of the chapter's philanthropic causes.

Donations were collected again in September 2009, based upon requests from St. Anne's Shelter – primarily fundamental items for its residents including socks and underwear, diapers and other baby and mom essentials.

Leadership Training Opportunities

EWI's Leadership Conference and Annual Meeting (LCAM) and spring conferences are open to all representatives. In 2009 we had 11 representatives attend our LCAM conference in Louisville, Kentucky in mid-September. Two representatives received LCAM awards to help defray some of the costs of attending LCAM.